Play Pandora on Sonos Speaker: Step-by-Step

To play Pandora on a Sonos speaker, you add the Pandora service to your Sonos app, link your Pandora account, and then select Pandora as the music source for your speaker. This works with both free Pandora accounts and Pandora Plus or Premium subscriptions, though the features available depend on your plan. The setup takes about five minutes and is done entirely from the Sonos app on your phone or computer.

Background: How Sonos and Pandora Work Together

Sonos speakers are designed to stream music directly from the internet, not from your phone’s Bluetooth connection (though Bluetooth is available on some models). This means you control playback through the Sonos app, which acts as a remote for all your music services. Pandora is one of the many streaming services integrated into the Sonos system, alongside Spotify, Apple Music, and others. When you add Pandora to your Sonos app, your speaker connects to Pandora’s servers directly, so you can leave your phone in another room and the music keeps playing.

How to Add Pandora to Your Sonos App

Here are the steps to connect Pandora to your Sonos speaker:

1. Open the Sonos app on your phone (iOS or Android) or desktop computer.
2. Go to the Settings tab (the gear icon) and select Services & Voice.
3. Choose Add a Service and scroll down to find Pandora in the list.
4. Tap Add and then Continue when prompted to link your account.
5. Enter your Pandora email and password, then accept the permissions. If you have a Pandora account created through Facebook or Apple, use the corresponding sign-in option.
6. Once linked, you’ll see Pandora appear in your Music Library or the Browse tab.

If you have multiple Sonos speakers, the service is added to your whole system, so you can play Pandora on any speaker without repeating the setup.

How to Play Pandora on Your Sonos Speaker

After linking, playing Pandora is straightforward:

1. Open the Sonos app and go to the Browse tab.
2. Select Pandora from the list of services.
3. Choose a station you’ve already created, or start a new station by searching for an artist, song, or genre.
4. Tap the play button, and select which room (speaker) you want to play it in. If you have grouped speakers, you can choose multiple rooms.

You can also use the Sonos app to control playback: pause, skip, thumb up or down, and adjust volume. The thumbs and skips still count toward your Pandora station personalization, just as they do on the Pandora app.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes the connection doesn’t work smoothly. Here are the most frequent issues and their fixes:

• Pandora doesn’t appear in the service list: Make sure your Sonos app is updated to the latest version. If it’s still missing, restart the app or reboot your phone.
• Account won’t link: Double-check your Pandora credentials. If you use Facebook or Apple sign-in, use that same method in the Sonos app. Also, ensure you have an internet connection.
• Music stops or buffers: This is usually a Wi-Fi issue. Move the speaker closer to your router, or check your internet speed. Sonos recommends a stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi network for streaming.
• Can’t find a station: If you’re searching for a specific song or artist, make sure you’re in the Pandora section of the Sonos app, not the general search. Also, Pandora’s catalog is limited to what’s licensed, so some tracks may not be available.

If none of these work, try removing Pandora from your services and adding it again. Go to Settings > Services & Voice, select Pandora, and choose Remove. Then re-add it following the steps above.

Pandora Free vs. Pandora Plus vs. Pandora Premium on Sonos

Your Pandora subscription type affects what you can do on Sonos:

• Free (ad-supported): You can play stations, but you can’t skip unlimited times (usually 6 skips per hour per station), and you can’t replay a track. You also can’t create offline stations.
• Pandora Plus: Removes ads, gives you unlimited skips, allows offline listening on the Pandora app (but not on Sonos), and lets you replay tracks. On Sonos, you get the same benefits as the app, except offline mode.
• Pandora Premium: Adds on-demand playlists and the ability to play any specific song or album. On Sonos, you can browse your playlists and play any track directly, not just stations.

Note that Sonos doesn’t support Pandora’s offline mode, so you need an internet connection to stream.

Using Voice Control with Pandora on Sonos

If you have a Sonos speaker with built-in voice assistants (like Sonos One or Sonos Beam), you can control Pandora with your voice. After linking Pandora, you can say:

• “Hey Sonos, play my Thumbprint Radio on Pandora.”
• “Hey Sonos, play Chill Mix on Pandora.”
• “Hey Sonos, pause.”

You may need to set Pandora as your default music service for voice commands. Go to Settings > Voice > Music Services and choose Pandora as the default. This only works if your Sonos speaker has a microphone and the voice assistant is enabled.

Alternatives to Pandora on Sonos

If Pandora isn’t available in your country or you want more features, Sonos supports many other streaming services. Some popular ones include:

• Spotify: Offers on-demand playback and a huge catalog, but no personalized radio like Pandora.
• Apple Music: Similar to Spotify, with a focus on playlists and integration with Apple devices.
• Amazon Music: Includes a free tier for Prime members, and an unlimited tier for on-demand.
• iHeartRadio: Offers live radio and custom stations, similar to Pandora but with more talk and news.

You can add multiple services to Sonos and switch between them freely. The process is the same: add the service, link your account, and browse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Pandora app to control Sonos?

No. The Pandora app on your phone cannot control Sonos speakers directly. You must use the Sonos app to control playback. The Pandora app is only for managing your account and stations, not for sending audio to Sonos.

Why does Pandora keep stopping on my Sonos?

This is usually due to a weak Wi-Fi signal or network congestion. Try moving your speaker closer to the router, or use a Sonos Boost or a wired Ethernet connection for your Sonos speaker. Also, check that your internet connection is stable.

Can I play Pandora on multiple Sonos speakers at once?

Yes. You can group your Sonos speakers together in the Sonos app, and then play Pandora on all of them simultaneously. The music will stay in sync across rooms.

Does Sonos support Pandora’s offline mode?

No. Sonos streams music directly from the internet, so you cannot download stations for offline listening on Sonos. Offline mode is only available in the Pandora mobile app.

I have a Pandora Premium account, but I can’t play specific songs on Sonos. What’s wrong?

Make sure you’ve linked your Premium account correctly. If you have a free account, you can only play stations. Also, check that the song or album is available on Pandora’s catalog. If it is, you should see it when you browse Pandora in the Sonos app.

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